By:  Jackson                                           S.B. No. 757
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to creating the State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day
 1-3     Medal.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Title 106, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding
 1-6     Article 6144i to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 6144i.  STATE OF TEXAS ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE DAY MEDAL
 1-8           Sec. 1.  STATE OF TEXAS ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE DAY MEDAL.
 1-9     The State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal shall be
1-10     awarded to a resident of this state who has displayed a commitment
1-11     to the pioneer service principles of duty, honor, faith, and
1-12     devotion to country and family in an exemplary fashion and who has
1-13     made outstanding contributions in pioneering the development,
1-14     growth, and progress of this state through the individual's work in
1-15     public service.
1-16           Sec. 2.  AWARDS COMMITTEE.  (a)  The State of Texas
1-17     Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal Committee consists of seven
1-18     members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of
1-19     the senate.
1-20           (b)  Committee members serve staggered six-year terms, with
1-21     the terms of two or three members expiring on January 31 of each
1-22     odd-numbered year.
1-23           (c)  A vacancy on the committee shall be filled for the
1-24     unexpired term in the same manner as other appointments to the
1-25     committee.
 2-1           (d)  The governor shall appoint the presiding officer to
 2-2     serve in that capacity for one year.
 2-3           (e)  Members of the committee shall serve without pay.
 2-4           Sec. 3.  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEDAL.  (a)  An individual who
 2-5     has personal knowledge of outstanding contributions pioneering the
 2-6     development, growth, and progress of this state by a person in
 2-7     public service that the individual believes merit the awarding of
 2-8     the medal may submit a letter of recommendation to the committee.
 2-9           (b)  A letter of recommendation for the awarding of the medal
2-10     must give an account of the outstanding pioneering contributions
2-11     and  may include statements, affidavits, records, photographs, or
2-12     other material to support and amplify the stated facts.
2-13           Sec. 4.  AWARDING OF MEDAL.  (a)  The committee shall review
2-14     the recommendations and may approve recommendations for the
2-15     awarding of the State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal.
2-16           (b)  The committee may award not more than five medals in any
2-17     one calendar year except that, in exceptional circumstances, the
2-18     legislature by concurrent resolution may authorize the governor to
2-19     award additional medals.
2-20           Sec. 5.  AWARDING OF MEDAL FOR PRIOR SERVICE.  The committee
2-21     may award not more than 10 State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance
2-22     Day Medals for achievement attained or service rendered before
2-23     September 1, 2001.
2-24           Sec. 6.  PRESENTATION OF MEDAL.  The governor shall present
2-25     the State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal to a recipient
2-26     in an appropriate ceremony.
 3-1           Sec. 7.  DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE.  (a)  The medal shall
 3-2     display the bust of James Pinckney Henderson with the words "State
 3-3     of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal" engraved in a circle.
 3-4     The medal shall be suspended from a ribbon of red, white, and blue
 3-5     and worn about the neck of the recipient.
 3-6           (b)  The governor shall approve the design and authorize the
 3-7     casting of the medal in any manner considered appropriate.
 3-8           Sec. 8.  FUNDING.  The STAR Day Foundation shall be
 3-9     responsible for the funding of the medals through pledges, gifts,
3-10     donations, or endowments from private sources on the foundation's
3-11     behalf.
3-12           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-13           (b)  As soon as possible after the effective date of this
3-14     Act, the governor shall appoint the initial members of the State of
3-15     Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Medal Committee.  The governor
3-16     shall appoint two members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2003,
3-17     two members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2005, and three
3-18     members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2007.